Chocolate is one of Hawaii's most delicious but unknown export products. Chocolate from the Big Island is a great souvenir to take home (chocolate covered macadamia nuts!), but also is a great snack together with a steaming cup of Kona Coffee! Did you know that there is an annual Chocolate Festival (with chocolate cook-off) in Kona each October?

If you would like to see the 'action' for yourself, you can visit a cacao orchard for an educational tour or chocolate tasting!

Thanks to the tropical climate, Hawaii is the only state where chocolate can be made with locally produced ingredients. The cacao is grown and processed on the Big Island, resulting in true, locally produced, American, chocolate! In the recent years, cacao is becoming a more and more popular crop amongst small farmers.

Tour the cacao orchards yourself

If you would like to see the 'action' for yourself, you can visit some orchards on an educational tour that includes a round trip through the orchard, shows you the entire chocolate production process from raw bean to chocolate bar, and of course also some chocolate-tasting. The Original Hawaiian Chocolate Farmers near Kailua Kona offer tours on Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. Admission fee for adults is $10, children under 12 pay nothing (but do get to taste!). Call ahead of your visit, reservations are required: (808) 322-2626.

Where to buy your Hawaiian Chocolate

There are several companies on the Big Island that make chocolate from this locally produced cacao and sell it. You can find this chocolate at local farmers markets, in any of the Island Naturals Natural food stores, in most other convenience shops and even in the local boutiques in the island resorts. You can also order it online and/or ship it home through the website of "Original Hawaiian Chocolate". This is the only producer to grow, harvest, process and package all-Hawaiian chocolate.

Kona Chocolate Festival each October

Starting with the spirit of Aloha, the Kona Chocolate Festival was a combination of traditional Hawaiian Luau – a gathering of community around food and music – and a traditional Southern Cook-off inspired by great chili cook-offs of the southern United States. The Kona Chocolate Festival is  an event that jams with music, brings the community together, and has a cook-off – and this cook-off is all about Chocolate!

During the Gala Benefit evening there is cultural entertainment, chocolate body art, chocolate fountain, chocolate Chefs, wine, champagne, and beer, and more chocolate than you can imagine. Have a look at the Kona Chocolate Festival website for up to date information.